Golden State Warriors: What is D’Angelo Russell’s peak?

The Golden State Warriors clearly have faith in D’Angelo Russell, but how far can he take this?

The Golden State Warriors weren’t left with many options once they found out Kevin Durant was on his way to Brooklyn. A dynasty was abruptly crumbling to dust while it seemed like all hope was gone as Durant made his departure. Then, news broke that the Dubs had pulled off a sign-and-trade deal to haul in D’Angelo Russell.

D-Lo was a first time All-Star last season and made many big improvements to his game. The point guard out of Ohio State was just one year removed since being given up on by the Los Angeles Lakers and deemed a lost cause by Magic Johnson. Essentially, Johnson stated that D-Lo would never be capable of leading a team.

Pretty tough criticism for a player so young. However, D-Lo quickly proved he was destined for greatness by using this to fuel his game. A massive improvement in season four led to him averaging a career-high 21.1 points and 7.0 assists as he helped carry the Nets out of the bottom of the conference to an NBA Playoff spot.

Now, Russell faces a much different challenge. No longer the young star on a growing team, Russell has become a key member of a franchise that is fresh off of five trips to the NBA Finals. His development will have to be accelerated while the learning curve is going to be steep.

It’s unclear how much better D-Lo can become. He has a solid build for his position and is already a great play maker. His scoring has reached an all-time high with his isolation moves being his best weapon. D-Lo can score in a variety of ways, utilizing many different shot types in the mid-range to get the job done.

Last season, he was a solid 3-point shooter going 36.9 percent from deep. Of course, most of these attempts were off of the dribble and contested as he was the primary ball handler for a not-so-great Nets team.

With the Warriors, Russell will be given an entirely new look on offense. He will receive far more catch-and-shoot opportunities while his time to isolate will be restricted. I’m sure Stephen Curry will help him continue to improve as a shooter, but turning into a reliable perimeter defender will take some time for Russell.

Overall, Russell is in a great place to become a stud. The resources are all there for D-Lo to reach his peak, the question is, will he be ready to work for it? At his best, D-Lo could potentially carry the torch for the next generation of Dubs championships.